Anemoia • Mikaelsons mate

Chapter 2

• • • Mystic Falls, spring 1001 • • •

"Go see if Esther needs your assistance." Asta's father presses a brief kiss to his daughter's forehead before sending her off, laughing lightly as she almost trips in her enthusiasm.

"Yes, father." Asta calls over her shoulder, already out of sight. With her skirt bunched in her hands, she runs towards the Mikaelson residence.

"Asta, dearest, have you come to help me again?" Esther smiles brightly when she sees the young girl running towards her. She promptly lets go of the rubbing stone and walks around the table to hug the girl in greeting.

"Yes, Esti. Father has helped me with my chores so I may assist you." Asta beams up at the woman who she considered the closest thing to a mother. Asta's mother had passed away when she had been very young and Esther had taken her under her wing and been a source of womanly wisdom for the girl.

"I am delighted to hear that, sweet child." Esther affectionately cups Asta's cheek. She was extremely fond of the helpful girl. From an early age, Asta had shown an interest in the magic that Esther could perform and had preferred to spend as much of her time as possible assisting the witch. If Asta was not spending time with Esther she could often be found playing and chatting with one of the Mikaelson children.

"Could I help you grind the herbs again?" Asta offers, pointing at the collection of dried leaves that were sprawled out on the wooden table.

"Yes please, but could you fetch me some water first?" Esther asks, biting back a grin at the girl's eagerness. Asta's assistance always brightened Esther's spirits seeing as Rebekah did not care much for magic. Although Asta could not perform magic herself, she did become well educated in the healing purposes of different flowers and herbs.

"I would be happy to, Esti." Asta nods curtly before skipping out of the door, bucket in hand. Esther had often enough encouraged Asta to call her mother and Asta's heart had almost burst at the kind offer she but had been too shy to actually do it, so instead she chose to use the nickname Ayana also used, with Esther's approval of course. She gasps as she nearly runs into Finn upon exiting the Mikaelson home.

"Asta." Finn sends the young woman a gentle smile as he steadies her. He shouldn't be surprised to see her here seeing as she spent most of her time at their home.

"Finn, I am sorry. I'm helping your mother." Asta explains hurriedly whilst pointing at the bucket in hand.

"I expected as much." Finn hums. The friendship between the young woman and his mother was a bit odd but very much welcome in his eyes. "Let me carry your bucket for you."

Asta gingerly hands him the item, not fully understanding why he wanted to carry the empty bucket but appreciating the kind gesture nonetheless. Finn had always been chivalrous.

Asta and Finn walk in comfortable silence while gazing around to see what the other villagers were up to. She looks to her left to see Niklaus and Elijah, conversing whilst both gazing in Tatia's direction. She lets out a soft giggle, they weren't the only men who were watching Tatia's every move.

Asta felt a little bad for the girl, she would feel terrible if people would continually watch her, she would surely trip over her own feet and everyone would know. She turns her head back to Finn, who was already looking down on her.

"Must you not join your brothers in pursuing Tatia?" Asta's tone was teasing but her cheeks flushed. Finn's presence always made her slightly timid, especially when he was towering over her like right now. She anxiously awaited his response.

She had never understood why the handsome man had never married, but Rebekah had told her Finn had taken interest in someone, he was just being a coward. Asta had quickly come to Finn's defense, Kol and Rebekah often teased Finn and Asta usually did not mind seeing as sibling soften teased and bickered but she would not allow them to call Finn a coward. In her eyes, he was incredibly thoughtful and wise to not rush into things.

"I do not. The fools don't see how the woman divides them." Finn replies after a moment. He might not be very talkative like his younger siblings, but he was very observative and did not miss the small arguments that had become more frequent between Niklaus and Elijah. He could not deny he was disappointed in the two for letting someone come between them.

"Love does strange things to us." Asta mumbles.

"I do not think it is love, not truly. It seems like a fleeting infatuation to me." Finn does his best to keep his tone light and he refrained from using harsh words like his father often did. He did not want to frighten Asta with crude language or a bad temper.

Asta furrows her brow, step faltering a little as she thinks his words over. "What do you consider the difference between an infatuation and true love?"

"Love is... patience. To be able to wait for the person you love to love you back instead of chasing one's own pleasure. It is putting the one you love above your own needs and desires." Finn replies calmly, brushing his fingers against Asta's enjoying the brief touch. He could say with certainty that he would always put Asta first. If she were to become his wife, her happiness and joy would be his priority. Finn would cherish and love her every day as she deserves.

"That's beautiful." Asta smiles softly at Finn, appreciating his well-thought-out answer. Finn wasn't a warrior like Elijah or Mikael, he fought yes, but never with such bloodthirst or intent as the other males of the villages. He thought about things and was often found with his head in the clouds, just like her.

Halting by the small river Finn places his hand on Asta's wrist, willing her to look at him. He'd seen Asta's look before and wondered if the girl knew she too was admired. "Asta, you are young but you do know you have plenty of suitors yourself?"

Asta averts her gaze, certain she would turn bright red if she were to look into Finn's eyes. Her eyes land on Finn's hand instead, which was wrapped snugly around her wrist without hurting her. The feel of his warm and calloused hand made a shiver run up her spine. He had touched her before but never with this much intent.

"I am aware of their advances towards me, but they do not interest me."

"Who does interest you?" Finn questions, head tilted slightly in the hope to catch her eye. He had waited and admired her from a distance, always quietly watching the girl and his mother working on herb blends and the preparation of spells.

Finn was a patient man if he was allowed to say so, but the young woman before him set something alight in him and after touching her as he did now he did not believe he could return to his role as a silent adorer.

Asta blushes, Finn usually wasn't this forward and they had never discussed such matters before. She liked Finn, she truly did but a small voice in her head reminded her he was already waiting for someone else, besides that he was almost ten summers older than her, she was a kid in comparison to him. "How cruel of you to tease me so, Finn." Asta murmurs.

"I apologize, please forgive me." Finn does his best to not look crestfallen at Asta's words. He had never intended to be cruel, not to her. She was like a small ray of sunshine and all he wanted was to protect her, keep her safe from the brutality that existed in their world.

"Of course I forgive you. I could never hold a grudge against any of you Mikaelsons." Asta promises, smiling up at Finn while placing her other hand on top of Finn's in an act of daring.

Finn looks at Asta's hand on his and an idea forms in his head. "I will make you a new bracelet, to make up for my teasing."

Finn was certain his sister would help him with this pursuit, after all, she was Asta's closest friend, she would surely know what was the fashion amongst the village girls. The last thing he wanted was for his Asta to be ashamed to bear his gift.

"That's so very sweet of you, thank you." Asta beams at Finn before remembering the task at hand. She reluctantly takes her hand off his and grabs the bucket from Finn's other hand. She did not want Esther to think she had forgotten her task.